More Flights, More Destinations From Oakland International Airport in 2002

Press Releases

February 15th, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Cyndy Johnson, (510) 577-4271
After Hours, (510) 577-4067

Oakland, CA, February 15, 2002 - The first half of 2002 begins with a flying start for Oakland International Airport after recent announcements of new and expanded service for San Francisco Bay Area travelers.

American Airlines has announced the inauguration of twice-daily nonstop service between Oakland and New York/JFK, beginning March 2. Also, as of February 5, American has reinstated its nonstop service between Oakland and Los Angeles with six flights a day on American Eagle regional jets.

JetBlue Airways continues to expand its Bay Area presence with the addition of a third daily nonstop to New York/JFK on March 10. A fourth daily nonstop to JFK is expected later this spring. JetBlue also plans new twice-daily, transcontinental service between Oakland and Washington, D.C./Dulles sometime this spring.

Southwest Airlines will expand their Oakland operation with three new daily nonstop flights to Chicago/Midway beginning April 7. Southwest is Oakland's largest airline with 120 daily flights.

Spirit Airlines resumes nightly redeye service between Oakland and Detroit on May 9.

SunTrips relocates their Hawaii program from San Francisco International Airport to Oakland on February 28, consolidating their Bay Area operation at Oakland. Last year, SunTrips relocated their Mexico program to Oakland International, while the seasonal Portugal program was relocated in 2000.

"Oakland International Airport, with its central, convenient location to the business centers and growing residential communities of the San Francisco Bay Area, is quickly becoming the preferred airport for travelers," said Director of Aviation Steven Grossman. "Top that with fewer weather-related delays, affordable fares, more nonstop destinations and frequent flights, Oakland International is well-positioned to grow to nearly 12 million passengers this year."

Oakland International Airport served 11.4 million passengers and handled more than 600,000 metric tons of air cargo in 2001. Oakland International has nearly 200 flights a day on 11 domestic and international carriers to 32 nonstop destinations, including the Hawaiian Islands, the New York area, Atlanta and Mexico. The airport is a revenue division of the Port of Oakland, an independent department of the city of Oakland.

Oakland International has the fewest weather-related delays in the Bay Area. It is the only Bay Area airport with a dedicated shuttle bus that meets every Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system train at the nearby Coliseum station. On-airport parking rates are $18/day in the long-term (Daily) lot and $15/day in the economy/overflow lots. For toll-free information assistance on ground transportation and parking services, call 1-888-IFLYOAK (435-9625). Visit the airport's Web site at www.oaklandairport.com for additional information.